5203 Epley GE Micro Kitchens Challenge

MICRO KITCHEN BIG Ideas for

SMALL

Spaces

(Maximizing Minimal Space)

Lindsey Wilson College Master of Arts Program - IXDS Professor Chris Quinn Ric Epley

TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Brief......................................................................3 RESEARCH Persona............................................................................4 Usability Testing..............................................................5-6 EXPLORATION Ideation............................................................................7 Sitemap............................................................................8 Mindmap..........................................................................9 User Journey...................................................................10 SOLUTION PROCESS Design Principals..............................................................11 Design Process WIREFRAMES Low fidelity......................................................................12 Medium Fidelity...............................................................12 High Fidelity....................................................................13 CONCLUSION User Centered Design Process..........................................14 Summation......................................................................15

INTRO

PERSONA

New York City—it offers everything at your fingertips. But like many metropolitan areas across the globe, those opportunities are also making our world smaller. Increasing urbanization and population growth are bringing us closer together—literally. The home size is decreasing while rent and mortgages are increasing. Even so, that modest space shouldn’t equate to a reduction in functionality, living standards or a reflection of personal style.

The Micro-Kitchen: Big Ideas for Small Spaces

Kitchen Mission: Design a functional micro-kitchen. Assume you are given a 7ft x 25in space.

What would your design look like? What features? What clever and creative solutions can you come up with?

This is your opportunity to impact the way people live, by being part of the design and engineering of this breakthrough appliance. How do you incorporate function and design into a fully functioning 7 linear foot kitchen that fits a metropolitan lifestyle?

Your design will be solving the space and functionality battle that challenge urban dwellers across the globe.

The Impact: Making the best of a small space isn’t a problem unique to NYC. A micro-kitchen gives urban dwellers an opportunity to optimize space in a savvy way. In partnership, we want to take your designs from mind to market—meaning your design could end up in homes across the globe!

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USABILITY TESTING USER RESEARCH

TASKS 1. Turning on the sink and water velocity.

Michelle successful "I like the slide feature for water pressure.”

Alexandria successful "I'm not sure what the temperature should be if I'm washing my hands?"

Johnna failure "I'm lost here. I don't understand any of this stuff. " Kim successful Mike successful

2. What is the method for starting the screen when it is not in use?

Michelle successful "Touch the refridgerator (and/or freezer) panel to start it."

Alexandria successful "Touch the glass front of fridge."

Johnna failure "Where is the power cord? How does touching it make it turn on? " Kim successful "Touch the front or back door of refrigerator."

Mike successful "Touch the screen in the upper right hand corner."

3. Does the table in the floor concept work for you?

Michelle failure "I hate that idea. I don't get it."

Alexandria successful "Great idea and HUGE space saver."

Johnna failure "Can't see how that could work. " Kim successful "I like the idea IF it would be easy to open and close."

Mike successful "Brilliant!"

4. Do you like the functionality of voice activation vs touch sensitive?

I had 5 people and gave them a paper screen test. I explained that this was a micro kitchen concept which had the objectives of maximizing space, positive user experience and some innovation. The largest logistic challenge was explaining that the screen was touch operated to start and voice activated to use. That was an abstract that was a bit difficult to prototype. I illustrated manually how the screen interfaced with the refrigeration unit and explained that the clear glass front and rear of the unit served as the operation panel when touched. Then when the user "picked" or called out a specfic screen, I held up the paper representing that screen.

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Michelle successful "YES!" Alexandria neutral "It would take some getting used to."

Johnna failure "I think I would rather touch the screen to operate it. I don't know

how it would work."

Kim successful "Yeah. Pretty cool."

Mike successful "Awesome!"

5. General comments - these tended to be more about fuctionality/need of the appliances than the screen itself.

Michelle neutral "I like the futuristic IDEA of it, but not sure how practical it is.”

Alexandria neutral "The table in the floor is a crazy good idea, but how DOES THAT

WORK???"

Johnna neutral "I really like it, I just don't understand it."

Kim neutral "I don't think you need an oven or a dishwasher. Maybe more cabinent space instead?"

Mike successful "Love this, but would not want a dishwasher."

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IDEATION

SITE MAP

GUIDELINES 1. The kitchen area is 7 feet wide and 27 inches deep.

2. The user will need to prepare, refrigerate, cook and clean the area.

3. Appliances include Cooking Surfaces, Microwave, Oven, Sink, Refrigeration.

4. The entire kitchen will be operational through a counter screen.

CONCEPT • The interface for all the appliances is the counter screen.

• Space is designed for a large urban area where space is at a premium and lifestyle is fast paced.

• The entire kitchen will be INSET into the wall past the drywall in oreder to offer more space.

• Refrigeration is a fridge/freezer combo; storage cabinets, disposal, oven, etc. all included.

• The refrigeration unit is also the counter screen. When touched the glass panel of the fridge “becomes” the counter screen. The screen is then voice activated for each particular function.

• There is also a table that is hinged in a trap door in the floor in front of the appliances. It can be elevated and used when needed. In the same opening is a trash chute where garbage can be disposed. The table is seamlessly integrated into the floor when not in use.

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MIND MAP

USER EXPERIENCE

The user journey illustrates the user persona. Since our screen panel is attached to the front of the refrigeration unit and is voice activated, a pleasant and intuitive method of operation is expected.

This map demonstrates some potential interactions between the user and the micro kitchen that include the: + Microwave + Stove Tp + Media - Television + Dishwasher —9—

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DESIGN PRINCIPLES

WIREFRAMES LOW FIDELITY

ACCESSIBILITY ◊ CLARITY ◊ CONSISTENCY • Accessibility— Voice Activation combined with HD screen.

• Clarity— Navigation is simple and consistent.

• Consistency— All screens and functions are similar.

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MEDIUM FIDELITY

• Based on user feedback: UI elements (sliders, buttons, etc.) were eliminated due to voice activation functionlity.

• Simplified— Voice activation/recognition has limited scope: Triggered by key words: + Start + Pause + Stop + Timer Set + Timer Start + Timer Stop

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WIREFRAMES

CONCLUSION HIGH FIDELITY

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USER-CENTERED DESIGN PROCESS 1. Research and Ideation

2. Persona and Tasks

3. Site Map

4. Mind Map

5. User Journey

6. Concept Navigation/UI

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CONCLUSION SUMMATION

Using a User Experience Interaction Design Process to evaluate a micro kitchen design objective in research, ideation, exploration, definition, design, prototype and usability validation was implemented.

This interactive process involves 3 phases including paper, prototype and usability validation to refine the concept.

After several iterations, effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction was achieved through user flow interactions, voice activated intuitive user experience, icons – all supported and validated by usability tests.

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